George A. Romero loosed a plague upon the world. Before his 1968 salvo, there was essentially no such thing as a zombie - certainly nothing in the mainstream, apt to spawn survival guides and HBO shows and twists on Jane Austen. But such was the power of the ultra low-budget Night of the Living Dead and its equally scathing, satirical sequels, that the zombie became the cultural powerhouse we all know and love. While the three zombie follow-ups Romero's made since have met with mixed receptions, there's no question that these three will gnaw their way into your brain and stay there. Triumphant.

Weakest link? Well, parts four, five and six actually; the original three are all rather brilliant. But if we have to choose, we'll say Day, which has suffered more than the other two from the endless imitations.

Mani Ratnam's trilogy consists of Roja (1992), Bombay( 1995) and Peck in the cheek A.K.A Kannathil Muthamittal (2002). These films tell semotional stories of families torn apart by terrorism, Riots and War. Each movie ends with a song appealing for peace. Here these character embark on a journey to get their loved ones against all odds. We see a wife's struggle to get her husband back or parents trying to find their lost children or little looking for her birth mother. Read More

3

The Apu Triology

Posted on Sunday October 27, 2013, 07:18 by Doc Joe

Any sensible list of best trilogies 'ever' made should invariably include 'The Apu Trilogy' by Satyajit Ray. Otherwise the list may suffer from serious indifference to humanity. Read More

4

You know, you can have a trilogy without blowing things up.

Posted on Tuesday September 3, 2013, 00:19 by Midwest Doc

How about Richard Linklater's Before Sunrise, Before Sunset and Before Midnight? Great movies with terrific dialogue. Read More

5

Great List!

Posted on Thursday August 1, 2013, 19:48 by AwesomeTrilogies

Certainly this is debatable but on the whole, this is a really a great list! Well done! Read More

6

Posted on Tuesday March 26, 2013, 20:24 by HornsbyHavoc

By the way, this list was made before The Dark Knight Rises came out, so that's why it's not on there. Read More

7

Pretty Good List

Posted on Tuesday March 26, 2013, 20:23 by HornsbyHavoc

my top 5:
5. Toy Story
4. The Matrix
3. Back to the Future
2. Star Wars (original)
1. Lord of the Rings Read More

8

WHAT?!

Posted on Saturday January 19, 2013, 21:29 by D4S

wheres the Dark Knight trilogy?? its probably better than lord of the rings Read More

9

Posted on Monday January 14, 2013, 02:40 by metank31

No love for John Carpenter's Apocalypse trilogy? The Thing, Prince of Darkness and In The Mouth of Madness? Not a trilogy in the given sense but the neither is the Vengeance trilogy, which made the list. I guess those Mighty Ducks votes were just too many to ignore. Read More

The best trilogy ever is the Dollars Trilogy, Lord of the Rings defiantly should not of been top. Oh and Empire by the way Star Wars really isn't that great. Read More

16

Toy Story

Posted on Friday June 1, 2012, 01:50 by #amazing

The Star Wars trilogy is hard to argue against in terms of the universe it created and there and The Lord of the Rings were majestic adaptations, but I really think that as a trilogy and on individual merit too, the Toy Story films have to be number 1. Three masterpieces and a fantastic story that develops to a natural conclusion. Genius. Read More

17

Posted on Sunday May 6, 2012, 17:11 by Celeste9614

Lord of the Rings in the first place? definitely . The place of it in millions of fan's heart is irreplaceable... Read More

18

batman

Posted on Thursday March 15, 2012, 15:02 by iordanstefan

make way, this summer nolan's batman trilogy is heading for first place Read More

19

RE:

Posted on Saturday February 18, 2012, 14:20 by Mr. Fincher

I think that Star Wars made a huge impact but Jedi was just a friggin' joke. The prequels should be higher though. Read More

20

Posted on Thursday February 16, 2012, 19:16 by dorylis

Star Wars, the original trilogy, should be first. In terms of impact and, let's see, yes creating a whole universe as compared to adapting one. I know you waited for LotR for a long time, but Star Wars kind of change the world! (For better or for worse...) Read More

In my opinion there didn't need to even be a trilogy. The first film was fine by itself. It had everything it needed. It told the story of a hero finding his way, going from being completely unaware to realizing who he is and most of all, what his purpose is. And the one factor that makes it clear that this movie should have been the one and only existing chapter of this series, is the final line of the film: "Where we go from there is a choice I leave to you." Read More

24

RE: The Matrix Trilogy

Posted on Wednesday March 23, 2011, 21:52 by Mr. Fincher

I agree! Trinity should have died when that bullet was inside her! Plus, the Revolutions Zion battle was boring! The problem was they didn't alternate between Neo going to to machine city and the battle of Zion! Read More

25

Matrix

Posted on Tuesday March 22, 2011, 16:37 by Mr. Fincher

Excuse me? The Matrix Reloaded is the weakest of the two?! Are you crazy?!?! Revolutions is sometimes considered as one of the worst films of all time and you're saying that it's better than Reloaded?! Read More

Let me go out on a limb by saying that the Toy Story trilogy is up there with the likes of Star Wars and LotR. All 3 Toy Story's are masterpieces and timeless, just as the top two. My order: 1. Star Wars, 2. Toy Story, 3. LotR. Read More

28

Nolan

Posted on Saturday February 26, 2011, 12:25 by Mr. Fincher

Here is an additional page to the feature:
Batman Trilogy (Christopher Nolan)
Batman Begins: *****
The Dark Knight: *****
The Dark Knight Rises: ?
OK, admittedly, it isn't a trilogy yet but you have to give credit for the first 2 films! Batman Begins was Christopher Nolan's (Best Director Ever!) first wide-scale film. It started a lasting friendship with actors like Christian Bale, Michael Caine (who appeared in every Nolan film afterwards) and Cillian Murphy. The pure genius of the script, the cinematography and acting is superb and gives the darkest edge to Batman since Tim Burton's original 2 films (which were rubbish). And then, The Dark Knight was released. And here we go! The Dark Knight is by far one of the best films ever made. Up there with The Godfather, Goodfellas, 2001, Star Wars V, Fight Club, Pulp Fiction, Inception (another Nolan), Shawshank Redemption, Jaws, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Raging Bull, Chinatown, The Apartment and all those others that just convey theRead More

I cannot BELIEVE The Ocean's Trilogy isn't up here! That's weird!! Read More

31

The Matrix Trilogy

Posted on Sunday October 31, 2010, 06:41 by TheAmazingOctopus

Surely Reloaded is far more superior to Revolutions? Yes, it did have a rave, but it also had the burly brawl and the motorway scene. Revolutions had an anti-climatic ending and a needless Trinity death scene (why not just let her die in Reloaded). Read More

Glad to see the Star Wars prequels get some love here. I will always defend those films. People make them out to be these horrible abominations of filmmaking, but they're actually pretty damn good. Read More

34

RE: Overknight...

Posted on Tuesday October 5, 2010, 23:28 by SamSolo

I agree, given the hype about Nolan at the minute, he is virtually assured a top ten place in this poll. Not that I am saying for one moment that it wouldn't be deserved. Read More

35

RE: Overknight...

Posted on Wednesday September 29, 2010, 13:28 by gazpop

L: Mopictures
Will be interesting how these type of polls will change when Nolan delivers his third and last Batman film.
hope it'll be epic but it aint gonna challenge the high enders I don't think. Read More

36

RE: Overknight...

Posted on Wednesday September 29, 2010, 01:17 by girl_interupted

C'mon guys its just a bit of fun isnt it? I personally would of had the vengence, indiana jones and Alien trilogies higher up in this list so its surprising how some of these have been voted for by so many people. Read More

37

RE: Mostly predictable!!

Posted on Tuesday September 28, 2010, 14:25 by Cruisecontroller

L: gazpop
L: Discodez
No Three Mothers Trilogy? Charlatans ot to agree with the LOTR detractors - they look great but are boring rubbish (like the books) the cinematic equivalent of Mogadon.
uh? Is this guy for real? Boring rubbish? Not enough explosions or bikinis for you? You damn yourself straight to Hades for claiming the books also rubbish. They are masterpieces. Ah hell, why waste my breath. I doubt you were even able to read until well into your teens and by then were more interested in, ummm, the Smirfs?
Can people please read what someone wrote earlier about trilogies? It explains everything you moaning minnies. I refer to Paulchilds, "A trilogy is not necessarily a collection of only three films. A trilogy is a story told in three parts, so if there are additional films prior to or preceeding that story, then yes there are 4/5/6 films in the 'series' but the trilogy still exists within that series.
There are 6 Star Wars films but they are split iRead More

38

RE: Aticus

Posted on Tuesday September 28, 2010, 14:16 by Cruisecontroller

L: livewire
If theres more than three it's not a trilogy. i demand the following be removed
Star Wars
Indiana Jones
Terminator
Aliens
Die hard
greed! Read More

39

RE: RE:

Posted on Friday September 24, 2010, 18:06 by paul_ie86

L: j8mie
It's funny because I worked my way through each page and got to number 3.
knew when I got to number 33 that those two were going to be top Read More

40

RE: Rush Hour?

Posted on Friday September 24, 2010, 15:55 by dansator

L: JIm R
squalification comes into play when you make ridiculous requests for votes for unworthwhile films to be included into the list. ote]
I don't see any "unworthwhile" films in the list, if you're talking about quality. Maybe I'm peeved by certain trilogies being so high in the list because I don't like them, but people have different tastes, and I respect that. The only ground I see for disqualification is if a trilogy doesn't qualify as a "trilogy". This would be if there are less or more than three films, or if the three films in some way don't build a cohesive unit.
Read More

41

RE: Mostly predictable!!

Posted on Friday September 24, 2010, 15:40 by gazpop

L: Discodez
No Three Mothers Trilogy? Charlatans ot to agree with the LOTR detractors - they look great but are boring rubbish (like the books) the cinematic equivalent of Mogadon.
uh? Is this guy for real? Boring rubbish? Not enough explosions or bikinis for you? You damn yourself straight to Hades for claiming the books also rubbish. They are masterpieces. Ah hell, why waste my breath. I doubt you were even able to read until well into your teens and by then were more interested in, ummm, the Smirfs?
Can people please read what someone wrote earlier about trilogies? It explains everything you moaning minnies. I refer to Paulchilds, "A trilogy is not necessarily a collection of only three films. A trilogy is a story told in three parts, so if there are additional films prior to or preceeding that story, then yes there are 4/5/6 films in the 'series' but the trilogy still exists within that series.
There are 6 Star Wars films but they are split into a distinct storRead More

42

RE: Rush Hour?

Posted on Friday September 24, 2010, 15:31 by JIm R

L: dansator
Judging by there only being 33 trilogies in the list I'm assuming that less than 50 trilogies received a vote. So why is one of my votes, the Rush Hour trilogy, missing from the list? Was it disqualified?
sp;
squalification comes into play when you make ridiculous requests for votes for unworthwhile films to be included into the list. Read More

43

RE: The Greatest Movie Trilogies

Posted on Friday September 24, 2010, 14:37 by Samurai_Zoso

Congratulations, Empire. You've proven again that your readers slow but steady seam to become stultified.
Discussing the lows and highs of such polls - and the often arguable results is one thing (and I enjoy a healthy exchange of differing opinions quite a bit), but this constant bitching* and the occasional outright hostile attitude of some users really starts getting on my nerves. I can't approve of everything Empire does of late - some lackluster features, peculiar reviews, etc. - but this immature behaviour of people who obvious have nothing better to do than use every opportunity to throw insults (if they at least would address their discontent in a more polite way), complain about anything and eveything puts me, as a longtime reader, off - more than any fishy article written by an inexperienced apprenticed ever could. *cough*
And say what you will but Empire hasn't yet failed to entertain me. Oh, and it didn't cost me that much money neither. size="2"]
*As if their Read More

44

RE: The Greatest Movie Trilogies

Posted on Friday September 24, 2010, 13:19 by D-ToX

Congratulations Empire on producing a feature that ranks as up there with the best shite that Total Film runs on their website every other day.
Did I miss the small print where it said ‘best three films’ in a series rather than ‘trilogy’ in its real meaning, worst feature ever and you should be ashamed at yourselves as much as I am for wasting my time casting a vote for it. Read More

45

RE: Mostly predictable!!

Posted on Friday September 24, 2010, 12:51 by Discodez

No Three Mothers Trilogy? Charlatans p;
Got to agree with the LOTR detractors - they look great but are boring rubbish (like the books) the cinematic equivalent of Mogadon. Read More

46

RE: RE:

Posted on Friday September 24, 2010, 12:10 by Rgirvan44

L: darth silas
I knew this poll would be a joke when i saw that the gay hobbit trilogy came in at no.01.For crying out loud,people actually think those overlong,pretentious,tree walking movies are better than Back To The Future and Indy?
Besides,most of the great trilogys are no longer trilogys as they have all been extended by further episodes(Star Wars,Indy,Die Hard,and Rambo have all gotten further instalments) so shouldnt be on the list.
sp;
Yeah, clearly the LOTR series has no fans. Read More

47

RE:

Posted on Friday September 24, 2010, 12:05 by darth silas

I knew this poll would be a joke when i saw that the gay hobbit trilogy came in at no.01.For crying out loud,people actually think those overlong,pretentious,tree walking movies are better than Back To The Future and Indy?
Besides,most of the great trilogys are no longer trilogys as they have all been extended by further episodes(Star Wars,Indy,Die Hard,and Rambo have all gotten further instalments) so shouldnt be on the list.
Read More

48

RE: Godfather

Posted on Friday September 24, 2010, 10:16 by JIm R

conviniently (once again) fucks around with it's star rating system post release to suit an arguement or to be seen to be reflecting everybody's opinion when all points of view are considered/i]the film is released, Phantom Menace was given four stars upon release not three. p;
ve you ended the review back in '99 along the lines of 'more than we believe we ever deserved the right to expect', well let me tell you chaps, bar a light saber fight and a villian that only Drath himself eclipses it was a two star film at best. p;
Read More

It's probably not worth getting too upset at this latest list given the inclusion of the Mighty Ducks proves that a lot of people weren;t taking this seriously at all. However, some points to be raised:
There are honestly very few "great" trilogies. Most have at least one piss weak entry, two of them by Brett Ratner. That's why he's such a colossal prick.
It's geuinely becoming boring to read yet another thing blaming the Spider-Man 3 being piss weak on the inclusion of Venom. He was a big problem, but nothing could have saved it. The script was swiss cheese and hamperped by problems inherited from the previous two films.. If any series demands a reboot, it's Spider-Man
It is in my opinion, Die Hard 3 which is the worst entry. Die Hard 2 is the only one of the sequels to follow logistically from the first one. How is McClane suddenly back in New York, nearly alcoholic and fighting with Holly again? And that twist thaRead More

51

RE: Really?

Posted on Thursday September 23, 2010, 17:21 by Samurai_Zoso

What's wrong with all this derision of LotR? After all the three(!) films are basically universally considered (by fans and critics alike) as masterpieces, or at least as really great and fatithful movie adaptions of Tolkien's work, nearly perfectly balancing the grand spectacle with intimate character moments. Imho the trilogy in its scope and achievement is still unsurpassed and therefore rightfully at the top fo this list.
On the other hand I'm a bit disappointed to see the Indiana Jones trilogy not being voted among the top 5. C'om, these films are, especially from today's perspective (easily forgetting/dismissing all the criticsim flung at Temple of Doom back then), the ultimate blockbusters. Pure, unaltered entertainement.
Really, they don't make them like this anymore (even Spielberg and Lucas* ain't capable of reproducing that kind of magic these days, sadly).
, the SW prequels, not even the best bits of it, can't remotely compete with the original trilogy."2"]In Read More

52

RE: Police Story

Posted on Thursday September 23, 2010, 15:58 by torchwood1

In reply to reinhardt76 who said the millenium trilogy is not complete I have seen all 3 films so check your facts next time Read More

53

RE: WAIT A MINUTE!

Posted on Thursday September 23, 2010, 14:42 by cosmic_starfish

The Millenium trilogy does exist, just the final film hasn't been released over here yet but It was released on 27th Nov last year in Denmark, etc so I think it's a valid entry. I am ashamed to admit I've never seen Back to the Future, looking forward to the re-release next month. Read More

54

RE: Since when is a trilogy 4 movies??!!

Posted on Thursday September 23, 2010, 14:01 by paulchilds

Sh**neck - you need to learn the meaning of the word trilogy.
A trilogy is not necessarily a collection of only three films. A trilogy is a story told in three parts, so if there are additional films prior to or preceeding that story, then yes there are 4/5/6 films in the 'series' but the trilogy still exists within that series.
There are 6 Star Wars films but they are split into a distinct story per trilogy - the story of Anakin and the story of Luke.
There are SIX Alien films (so far) - not four as you suggest. Alien through to Alien 3 tell a rounded story of Ripley thereby making 1-3 a trilogy. Alien Resurrection is the start of a new story (which sadly was never expanded on). AVP and AVPR are prequels to the Alien films - if a third comes out and continues to develop the Weyland Yutani storyline then that will be a separate trilogy.
Terminator is, like Star Wars, split into two trilogies (with parts 5-6 not made yet) as they tell two separate stories (Pre and PRead More

55

RE:

Posted on Thursday September 23, 2010, 12:51 by tommypocket

Two things proved from this feature:
1) You can count the truely great trilogies on one hand.
2) The people voting for the Matrix, Pirates and Mighty Ducks are presumably also the people who can't count to three...
Read More

56

RE: RE:

Posted on Thursday September 23, 2010, 12:32 by piccolo135

Brilliant feature, more so because it's quite obviously voted for by the readers.
And as for Mighty Ducks, I refuse to believe anyone that didn't enjoy that as a kid. Read More

57

RE:

Posted on Thursday September 23, 2010, 12:26 by j8mie

It's funny because I worked my way through each page and got to number 3. I knew at that point it was going to be Star Wars and LoTR in the final two spots, but I have to admit I had them the other way round............but I'm truly thankful that people can see past all that Jedi nonsense and put the better films on top. I can't believe the Mighty Duck trilogy was in the final list or that the Matrix films were so high. Did the people who voted not see the last two films???
I do have to agree about including films that have a 4th film. If for example there was no Alien 4 then you could ignore the AvP films (as they are more of a spin off) and allow the Alien trilogy in. All the other should really have been removed from this list.
Read More

58

RE: Aticus

Posted on Thursday September 23, 2010, 11:44 by livewire

If theres more than three it's not a trilogy. i demand the following be removed
Star Wars
Indiana Jones
Terminator
Aliens
Die hard Read More

59

RE: Aticus

Posted on Thursday September 23, 2010, 11:24 by Gretzky

Agree with other posters here. When I voted I chose strictly trilogies so feel a bit gypped that so many other non-trilogies were included... It's not strictly a trilogy if there's more than three - it's a series - regardless of when they were made. Read More